Signaling device



Feb. 16, 1932. a. ELIGGI 1,845,866

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed May 31, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 16, 1932. B. ELIGGI 1,845,866

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed May 31, 193.0 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 B. ELIGGI.

TTORNEYS.

JNVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 1 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNALING DEVICE Application filed Kay 31,

This invention relates to im rovements in signals, and has particular re erence to the actuating mechanism for controlling a signal.

A further object of this invention is to provide means whereb when a signal is installed upon a motor ve icle, the signal may be thrown to operative position and after the vehicle has been operated in the direction indicated by the signal and has again returned to the straight path, the signal will automatically be returned to straight-away OS IlZIOII.

A further object is to produce a evice of this character which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

A further ob'ect is to produce a device which will not etract from the appearance of the vehicle upon which it is attached.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the release mechanism may be held in inoperative position if desired, as for 1nstance in moving away from the curb when several shifts are necessary in order to accomplish the get-away.

Other objects and advantages Will be apparent during the course of the following descri tion.

In t e accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steering wheel and column having my invention attached to the steering column,

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed cross-section taken on the line 22 of F i re 1,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the cap removed,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the main casting and showing the spring pressed retaining roller,

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the cap showing the spring positioned therein,

Figure 6 is a. top plan view of the operating lever, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view.

In driving a motor vehicle, it is common to have a signal arm secured to the vehicle which is actuated from a switch mechanism mounted upon the steering column or adjacent 1930. Serial No. 558,413.

thereto. This switch mechanism may operate the signal either electrically or through use of a fluid or vacuum. These switches are manually actuated so that the signal will be moved to indicate the drivers intention, and after the driver has made the turn for which he has signalled, it then returns to normal position.

Applicant has devised a simple mechanism wherein the signal, after once being set, will be automatically returned to the neutral or straight-away position as soon as the turn, for which the signal has been set, has been executed.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a steering column upon which usual steering wheel 6 is positioned,

secured to the steering column 5 is a casting 7 the manner of holding the casting to the steering column being immaterial. I hereby show a band 8 engaged by a nut 9 and movable in a slot 11 in the casing through the medium of a screw 12. The casting 7 has an up-standing boss 13 which is internally threaded to receive a screw 14, which screw serves to hold the cap 16 upon the casting 7 The cap 16 is recessed, as shown at 17 and 18, so as to permit the operating lever 19 to pass between the casting 7 andthe cap, which is pivoted upon the boss 13, at the same time permits the rel-easing trigger 21 to extend from beneath the cap and into the path of actuating pins 22 and-23 secured to the steering wheel 6. In order to operate the lever in its three adjusted positions, I provide a roller 24 which is carried in a plunger 26 and moved under tension by a spring 27 against the recesses 28-29 and 31, formed in the casting. (See figure 4.) Slidably carried in the operative lever is a slide 32 which has an elongated opening 33 therein which permits the slide to move with relation to the stud 13. This operative lever slide has an up-standing end 34 which normally lies in the position shown in Figure 3, that is, in alignment with shoulders 36 and 37 formed on the trigger disc 38. The opening in the center of the trigger disc is large enough to permit a spring 44. This spring is best shown in Figure 5, where it will be noted that the ends of the spring contact a lug 46 formed within the cap 16. If the signals are to be operated by air, a plurality of pipes extend from the signal and pass through the casting 7 in such a manner that the movement of the operating lever will open and close certain of the pipes so as to cause the proper actuation of the signal. The manner of operating my device is as follows:

Assuming that the device has been installed 7 upon the steering wheel of a motor vehicle,

and that the pins 22 and 23 have been secured to the steering wheel so that when the same is revolved, the pins are moved into engagement with the trigger 21. We will now assume that it is desired to turn toward the left. The operating lever will be moved towards the left as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. This will move the up-standing end 34 of the operating lever slide 32 in position against the shoulder 36 of the trigger disc. In executing the left hand turn the steering wheel will be moved in a counter-clockwise direction and as the pin 22 comes into engagement with the trigger 21, it will move the triggerin a clockwise direction against the action of the spring 44 through the lug 43, having engagement therewith. It will be here noted that the end of the spring, which is not now being moved, will be held against the lug 46 of the cover and consequently, this lug 43 may move in either direction, and will also be brought back as soon as the trigger is released.

WVe will now assume that the maneuver of turning to the left has been completed and the steering wheel is again turned back to the straight-away position. In turning the steering wheel back, the pin 22 will again engage the trigger 21, but as the shoulder 36 is against the up-standing end 34 of the slide, the trigger disc cannot be rotated except by also imparting rotation to the operating lever with the result that the spring pressed roller 24 will move from its position in the depression 28 to its straight-away position in the depression 29. The action in turning to the right is identical to that just described,

' with the exception that the parts move in the curb where it is necessary to rotate the steering wheel several times in both directions in order to jockey ones position out of a tight place, then the operator pushes the slide 32 so that the up-standingend 34 is out of alignment with the shoulders 36 and 37 and can move into the end of the extensions 47 and 48 of the slot 42 and in either of these positions the trigger 21 will be inoperative when engaged by the pins 22 and 23. As soon as the operator has moved out of such a position by merely moving the slide back to its normal position of Figure 3, the switch will operate in the normal manner.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without depart ing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim 1. .In combination with a steering wheel and its'support, of a signal'mechanism comprisinga casting secured to the steering wheel support, a boss formed on said casting, an operating lever pivoted on said 'boss, said casting having a pluralityofrecesses formed therein, a .spring pressed roller carried'by said supporting lever and adapted to successively engage said recesses when said lever is actuated, a trigger .disc positioned on said lever, said trigger disc having a trigger formed integral therewith, said disc having a slot formed therein, and shoulders formed on said disc adjacent saidslot, a slide carried on said lever and having aturned end adapt.- ed to enter said slot in said disc,,said disc having an upturned lug adapted .to engage a spring element mounted above said lever, each end of said spring being held against movement in one direction'only.

2. In combination with a steeringv wheel and support, a signal mechanism comprising a casting fixedly secured to the steering wheel support, a fixed pivot carried on said casting, a sliding lever movable on said pivot, means adjustably positioning said lever at fixed points above said pivot, a trigger disc overlying said lever and rotatable about said pivot, a trigger secured to said disc and adapted to be contacted by pins carried on said wheel, and means carried bysaid lever for causing said lever to movefrom one of its positions to another when said trigger disc is-moved in one direction only. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. BARTOLOMEO ELIGGI. I 

